Meet the Makers: Smith & Company Candles

a family business full of bright and wonderful scents

What started as a small candle business that operated out of her basement in Wisconsin Rapids turned into a family biz full of love and delightful smells. Kenna Hoff and her husband, Doug, took over Smith & Company Candles after her mom had originally ...

ST. NICK STRIKES BACK: Rejection Letters from Santa

we intercepted correspondence between some Chippewa Valley folks and the jolly old elf

“Esteemed Father Christmas: Good day, sir. I hope it’s not too forward to seek your generosity for a certain Christmas present this year. As I float through the streets of modern Eau Claire ...”

Meet the Makers: The Oak Lair Woodcraft

staying laser-focused with woodworker Cullen Bright

Tinkerer, dabbler, and woodworker. Cullen Bright comes from a long line of folks takin’ a stab at a variety of hobbies and endeavors, and Oak Lair Woodcraft is the fruition of his own creative journey. Founded in ...

Meet the Makers: Meadowsong Studios

in the studio with potter Ann Wrozek-Manor

Ann Wrozek-Manor is the creative soul behind Meadowsong Studios. A relief for her mind as much as for her clay-spinning hands, Meadowsong Studios has been a teaching hub too since it opened in 2009 ...

HARK! All the Best Chippewa Valley Holiday Things in One Place

the best local Christmastime events, music, venues, and more, as voted by Volume One readers

One annual Best of the Chippewa Valley Poll asks a lot of questions, including about what readers things are the best holiday season experiences around. Here’s what they had to say for 2022 ...

Museum Celebrating the Season with Carols, Crafts, and Cookies

C.V. Museum marks Eau Claire’s sesquicentennial with new series

Come join the Chippewa Valley Museum in a celebration of Eau Claire’s sesquicentennial year! Expect live music and family-friendly entertainment with events that cover the three essential c’s of the holidays: caroling, crafts, and cookies ...

3 Seasonal Stage Productions You Won’t Want to Miss

an unexpected bear, a Jane Austen sequel, and a show so nice it’s running twice

Looking for some theatrical Christmas cheer? Get your fill of seasonal charm with the following local stage productions. And if these don’t fit into your calendar, check out our all the upcoming theater listings ...

Searching for Meaning in a Season of Grieving

Art Therapist, Trisha Lundin, gives words of wisdom about grieving during the Holiday season

My five-year-old daughter and I recently attended a pool party. Her friends were already swimming when we arrived, and I left her with her friends at the side of the pool while I adjusted to the water. Moments later, her friends came frantically swimming toward me. When I found her...

Throw a Themed Holiday Party That Doesn’t Suck

not that we think Valley folks can’t throw a killer party, but here are a few theme ideas to get those creative juices flowing

While it is certainly enough just to spend time with loved ones, there are the overachievers who throw themed parties, and no one wants to be the stick in the mud who doesn’t participate. That being said, no one wants to be the stick in the mud who throws a lame party either, so we’ve got five theme ideas ...